10 Best Restaurants in Oman

Run by a former fisherman who personally selects the restaurant's fresh seafood selections from the Mutrah market each morning, this is the best place in town to sample the incredible local catch. The popular restaurant has expanded to a large building facing the parking lot (so there is rarely a wait), but the smaller original dining room just behind it is quieter with a bit more ambience. An order of the mixed mezze, which includes hummus, babaghanoush, olive tapanade, and a spicy tomato puree, comes with long, thick loaves of fresh-baked Turkish flatbread and makes a great accompaniment to grilled fish and prawns. The house salad, dressed with a light vinegar, is excellent as well. The knaffe, a dessert of slightly salty cheese topped with sweet fried vermacelli, paired with a cup of strong Turkish coffee provides the perfect finish to a meal here.

The bare-bones restaurant in the Bowshar International Hotel doesn't look like much, but the biryani (basmati rice layered with masala spices and either chicken, prawns, or fish) is the best in Muscat. As one of the city's only 24-hour dining options, it is a favorite post-nightclub dinner spot on the weekends. The prawn biryani and the local hamour fish biryani are especially good, served with a cooling yogurt sauce called raita. Order it mild if you are especially sensitive to heat.

At the northern end of the Mutrah Corniche, the exquisitely designed "House of Frankincense" offers diners a taste of authentic Omani dishes, including grilled beef, chicken, and squid mishkak skewers;harees (a savory porridge of chicken or meat slow-cooked with wheatberries and spices, topped with fried onions and ghee); and rice kabulis (flavourful basmati pilaf cooked with whole cardamom pods, cinnamon bark, ground cumin, corriander, and other spices), along with local seafood from the nearby fish market and modern inventions like shuwa (Omani slow-cooked meat) lasagna. The tranquil dining area features traditional dark, carved wood accents and colorful Omani pillows and tapestries, and the sound of Arabian oud music plays softly in the background. A few small tables on the balcony overlooking the Corniche are a romantic option during cooler months.

This simple café is the only dining establishment for miles around, and it serves up good fresh juice and an inexpensive buffet lunch featuring a hodgepodge of dishes and several types of rice.

Amid the towering buildings in the Central Banking District (CBD) in Ruwi, this Turkish standby is the best dining option in the entire area. It offers a plethora of grilled options, including Turkish-style ground meat kebabs, garlic- and lemon-marinated chicken, lamb chops, whole fish, and prawns; the mixed grills are the main draw and are ideal for sharing. But the kebabs and grilled chicken wrapped in flatbread with a smear of garlic mayonnaise, a few french fries, and house coleslaw for 700 baisas (less than US$2) are the best value in town. During the day the restaurant bustles with the lunch crowd from surrounding banks, but at night the quiet outdoor dining space takes on a more relaxed, romantic feel.

Known locally as "the pink restaurant" because of the vibrant exterior, this is simple Turkish place is a favorite of Ibra residents. The mixed grill is a good lunch option on the way from Muscat to Bidiyah, which is another 30 to 40 minutes' drive, or after a visit to the Wednesday ladies' market.

A well-known Indian chain in Oman with five outlets throughout the country, this family-friendly Indian restaurant offers reliable curries, tandoori-grilled meats, and other typical north Indian cuisine. The dining room is simple but comfortable, and it is nice to have a sit-down option in a city with so few dining outlets. To top it off, the prices are very reasonable.

Near the souk, this no-frills restaurant serves fantastic local seafood, grilled to perfection alongside a curry dipping sauce and a simple chopped salad. It is best to request whatever was freshly caught that day, which will typically include cuttlefish, a giant squid, and kingfish or tuna. Ask for an order of flaky parata bread to round out your meal.

There may be a new crop of sushi restaurants appearing throughout the capital, but it is worth the drive to Ruwi to experience this one, the oldest Japanese restaurant in Muscat. Tucked inside the Al Falaj Hotel, the kitchen has been overseen by the same Japanese chef for over a decade, offering a teppanyaki grill table, sushi rolls, sashimi, bento boxes, and the largest sake menu in Oman. Reservations are not necessary during the week but highly recommended on the weekends.